He is considered one of the premier kickers in the National Football League. He attended Tates Creek High School in Lexington, moving on to attend college at the University of Louisville. Between 1997 and 1998, as an undrafted free agent, he spent time trying to make the team with the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers and the Washington Redskins. He was signed by the Redskins in 1998 and played in one game for them, making two extra points but missing two field goal attempts. He was later released by Washington, and was claimed from waivers by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1999. He was then allocated to NFL Europe, where he played one season for the Berlin Thunder. He impressed scouts with his power and accuracy, and earned the permanent kicker spot for the Eagles in 2000.

He made the longest field goal in Philadelphia on September 14th, 2003: a 57 yarder against the New England Patriots (despite losing 31-10). He owns the team record for most points scored in one season (133, in 2002). He has also earned four Pro Bowl selections (2001, 2002, 2004, 2005), and he scored the second most points ever in a playoff game in NFL history (15, in 2001 when the Eagles beat the Chicago Bears 33-19). In 2005 in a game against the Oakland Raiders he kicked a 28 yard game winning field goal (Final Score: 23-20) with a hamstring tear in his non-kicking leg afterwards limping off the field in extreme pain.

He practices martial arts like Jiu-Jitsu and Shaolin Kempo, and it helps him to focus when he attempts a kick.